Method and tape construction for laying out a baseball diamond

Abstract

A reel dedicated to the layout of a baseball diamond includes a tape with an inner end reeled onto a reel body and an outer end attached to the reel body to form a loop of the tape. The loop has a length 2x+√2x and has a first base marking at a distance x from the outer end, a second base marking at a distance 2x from the outer end, a third base marking at a distance x+√2x from the outer end and a pitcher's plate marking at a distance of y from the inner end. x is equal to the required distance between bases. y is equal to the distance of the pitcher's plate from home base. The loop is pulled out into a first triangle from first base to second base and back to home plate and then in a second triangle from home plate to first base and to third base to accurately lay out the positions of pegs.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of laying out a baseball diamond comprising providing a loop of tape, defining on the loop a base position for locating at home base, defining on the tape a first marking indicative of first base, a second marking indicative of second base and a third marking indicative of third base, the first marking being located at a distance x from the base position, the second marking being located along the loop of tape beyond the first position at a distance 2x from the base position, the third marking being located along the loop of tape beyond the second position at a distance x+√2x from the base position, the length of the loop being equal to 2x+√2x, where x is equal to the required distance between bases, locating the base position at a home base marker at a point on the ground selected as home base, pulling the loop in a direction toward an intended location of first base, locating a first base marker on the ground at a position measured by the tape indicated by said first marking, pulling the loop around the first base marker until the loop is taut and forms a first triangle with the apexes at the base position, at the first base marker and at the second marking, placing a second base marker at the second marking, pulling the loop around the first base marker until the loop is taut and forms a second triangle with the apexes at the base position, at the first base marker and the third marking, and placing a third base marker at the third marking. 
     
     
       2. The method according to claim 1 including providing a pitcher's plate marking on the tape at a position along the tape beyond the third marking and, with the loop in the first triangle, locating a pitcher's plate marker on the ground at the pitcher's plate marking. 
     
     
       3. The method according to claim 1 including winding the tape onto a reel so as to define an inner end on the reel and an outer end and attaching the outer end to the reel so as to form the loop of tape between the inner end and the outer end. 
     
     
       4. The method according to claim 3 including providing a slide member slideable on the tape and grasping the loop by the slide member. 
     
     
       5. A reel of tape for laying out a baseball diamond comprising a reel body, a reel rotatably mounted on the reel body, a tape wound onto the reel so as to define an inner end attached to the reel and an outer end separate from the reel, means on the outer end for attachment of the outer end to the reel body, a first marking on the tape indicative of first base, a second marking on the tape indicative of second base, a third marking on the tape indicative of third base and a pitcher's plate marking on the tape, the first marking being located at a distance x from the outer end, the second marking being located along the loop of tape beyond the first position at a distance 2x from the outer end, the third marking being located along the loop of tape beyond the second marking at a distance x+√2x from the outer end and the pitcher's plate marking being located at a position along the tape beyond the second marking and arranged at a distance from the inner end equal to the required distance of the pitcher's plate from home base the length of the tape from the inner end to the outer end being equal to 2x+√2x, where x is equal to the required distance between bases and a slide member which is manually graspable and slideable along the tape for pulling the tape into the loop. 
     
     
       6. A method of laying out a baseball diamond comprising providing a loop of tape, defining on the loop a base position for locating at home base, defining on the tape a first marking indicative of first base, a second marking indicative of second base and a third marking indicative of third base, the first marking being located at a distance x from the base position, the second marking being located along the loop of tape beyond the first position at a distance 2x from the base position, the third marking being located along the loop of tape beyond the second position at a distance x+√2x from the base position, the length of the loop being equal to 2x+√2x, where x is equal to the required distance between bases, providing a pitcher's plate marking on the tape at a position along the tape beyond the third marking, locating the base position at a home base marker at a point on the ground selected as home base, providing the tape as a continuous tape, providing a slide member slideable on the tape along the full length of the continuous tape and grasping the loop by the slide member, pulling the loop by the slide member in a direction toward an intended location of first base, locating a first base marker on the ground at a position measured by the tape indicated by said first marking, pulling the loop by the slide member around the first base marker until the loop is taut and forms a first triangle with apexes of the triangle at the base position, at the first base marker and at the second marking, placing a second base marker at the second marking, locating a pitcher's plate marker on the ground at the pitcher's plate marking, pulling the loop by the slide member around the first base marker until the loop is taut and forms a second triangle with apexes of the second triangle at the base position, at the first base marker and the third marking, and placing a third base marker at the third marking.